Wolves in the Northern Rockies will be removed from the endangered species list within the next year, say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This will be a move that would expose the animals to trophy hunting.

Federal officials have for months been readying a proposal that calls for Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to assume management of the estimated 1,200-plus gray wolves in their states. The plan would go into effect following a year-long comment and review period.

If the Northern Rockies' proposal overcomes the expected legal challenges and becomes law, it would open up wolves in the region to trophy hunting for the first time since an intensive wolf restoration effort began in the late 1980s.

The animal was declared endangered in 1974, shortly after passage of the Endangered Species Act.

Federal and State biologists have said each of the Rocky Mountain states will be required to maintain a minimum of 100 wolves, including 10 breeding pairs, or the animal would again come under federal protection. A buffer of at least five additional breeding pairs per state would be required to ensure the canine does not once again become endangered.

Despite concerns from wildlife advocates that the three states will invite widespread slaughter of the notorious canine, federal and state wildlife managers insist the plan is sustainable.

Fish and Wildlife officials still have not resolved a dispute with Wyoming over its proposed management plan. The federal agency has rejected the state's proposal and Wyoming has sued the federal government over the rejection.Wyoming and the Fish and Wildlife Service are negotiating for a compromise. Wyoming wants more latitude to kill wolves when necessary to protect livestock and wildlife.

If the dispute with Wyoming is not resolved before the Fish and Wildlife Service delisting proposal is final, federal officials have said they might exclude Wyoming from the delisting program.

The Fish and Wildlife Service attempted to reclassify wolves in northern Montana under the less-restrictive threatened status in 2003. That was later overturned in federal courts.